Akustica working on ultrasonic applications, such as gesture recognition

Akustica's line of MEMS microphone models, with both top and bottom ports, offer a variety of option some optimized for cost, others for small size and four new HD models suitable for advanced functions like super-accurate voice recognition. Click here for larger image (Source: Akustica)

Besides offering multiple MEMS microphone setups for noise cancellation and beam steering, Akustica is also working on support for ultrasonic applications such as gesture recognition, gaming, pen input and location detection. Akustica is backed by 1,000 MEMS patents and 20+ years of MEMS manufacturing experience at its parent company Bosch which maintains an advanced 200-millimeter (8-inch) MEMS wafer fabrication facility in Reutlingen, Germany.

Yes, we'll definitely see SNR continue to improve and at lower price points. What is even more important, in my mind, is that a unidirectional MEMS microphone with high SNR can replace multiple-microphone arrays - today. That means, even if the per unit cost is still at a premium, the value prop still makes sense. At a high level, one device means the total system is easier to design and manufacture, less space is taken up on an already tight motherboard, and there will be fewer points of failure (not to mention lower power, heat, etc., etc.). I'm just wondering about uptake of the Harman product though because I haven't seen much written about it to know how well it works.

According to the analysts, all the high-end smartphone makers are going for as much SNR as they can get, and are willing to pay the premium price they demand. The reason is that the voice recognition and noise canceling algorithms work so much better, low-volume voice calls are easier to understand and the quality of the soundtrack on video recordings is even more important than the video quality. Of course, like everything else, as volume production ramps up and prices go down the other-than-top-line-models will start to adapt HD mics too.

In January Harman announced unidirectional analog and digital MEMS microphones with SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) up to 68 dBA. Have you come across anyone designing these in yet? If a single MEMS microphone can replace multi-mic arrays for noise cancelation, it should speed adoption by significantly reducing the cost and space required within the target device. Thoughts?

All your arguements for digital outputs are valid, and in fact the first startup's first microphone (Akustica) had digital outputs. Unfortunately, its kind of like the VHS versus Beta video take war--if you can remember that far back--everybody was already set up for analog mics (electrets) so much so that even Akustica has had to acquiesce a prodeuce analog models. But I am with you, and think hat eventually all MEMS mics will be digital.

It would be interesting to know how far digital microphones (DMICs) -- MEMS mics that include the A/D converter -- have penetrated within the overall MEMS mic market. From an interface perspective, integrating the A/D into the same package as the MEMS makes so much more sense -- especially for applications requiring many microphones (beam-forming arrays, etc.). From the perspective of the audio processor at the receiving end, the two-wire PDM data & clock interface from a DMIC is so much easier to handle than a low-level analog signal, that it's probably well worth the extra cost of the MEMS mics with built-in A/D converters.

Oh that's an answer with fact figures; my estimation was based on the observation of my own. But yes it is very true that MEMS Mics will be having more chances of acceptance in other left out application with possible use of it for betterment.

Your are right too. Even though there are MEMS mics with HD quality, here is the breakdown on where they are used today (according to IHS)-- mobile phones (70 percent), tablets (13 percent), MEMS mics in headphones that manufacturers supply with their smarphones (9 percent), laptops (6 percent) and wearables (2 percent).

You are right many applications of MEMS Mic array are under development in many different areas, in the filed of mechanical engineering, environmental science, medical electronics etc. Soon many products will be in the market using MEMS Mic arrays. Although these Mics are still not being tried as conventional microphones that are used in live performances.

Beside smartphones, tablets all use MEMS microphones, also many PCs are switching over because they can locate mutiple MEMS in the bezel for noise cancelling and beam stearing. Apple's smart watch due this fall will use MEMS microphones also video camera, still cameras and digital recorders are all moving to MEMS mics. For the next generation, wearables will use MEMS mics and portable medical devices and the list goes on.